Friday 1st December 2006 - 09.12

Cullercoats Lifeboat was called to the mouth of the River Tyne where it was reported a man had jumped from the North Tyne Pier into the sea. While the Cullercoats Lifeboat searched the seaward side of the pier, Tynemouth Lifeboat searched the river with the Rescue Helicopter 131 from Boulmer being tasked along with the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade. After a short search the crew of the Tynemouth Lifeboat located and recovered the casualty but despite the best efforts of their crew and paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Monday 30th October 2006 - 14.50

A local fisherman was experiencing engine problems 2 miles off Cullercoats Bay. The crew safely towed the 25ft boat "Laura June" back to Cullercoats Harbour and assisted it onto it's trailer.

Saturday 28th October 2006 - 15.50

Cullercoats Lifeboat was called out to assist a Jet Ski which had suffered mechanical failure 1.5 miles off Cullercoats Bay. A local fishing boat had begun to tow the ski back, when the lifeboat arrived they took over using their specalist towing equipment.

Saturday 21st October 2006 - 14.35

The Cullercoats Lifeboat crew were called to Tynemouth Longsands for the second time on the same day - after 2 tourists had become cut of by the tide on Sharpness Point. The lifeboat stood-by as firefighters assisted them safely off the rocks.

Saturday 21st October 2006 - 10.50

The Lifeboat was called out at 10.45am to a man who had been swimming on Tynemouth Longsands and become caught in a rip current dragging him 20 metres out to sea. Surfers raised the alarm and within minutes the Cullercoats Lifeboat was on scene - the crew quickly picked up the swimmer, who was being kept afloat by two surfers. The casualty was wearing only shorts and suffering from mild hypothermia.

He was taken back to the Cullercoats Lifeboat Station and given first aid treatment; he was later transferred to hospital by the Tynemouth Volunteer Life

Tuesday 10th October 2006- 00.57

Cullercoats Lifeboat was requested to launch at 1am after it was reported two persons were swimming off the Rex Hotel in Whitley Bay.

Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade and Police were also involved in the late night search, but it was soon confirmed by ground-based police that the people were ashore and safe.

Wednesday 27th September 2006 -17.15

Cullercoats Lifeboat was launched to assist a group who had been cut off by the incoming tide at St Marys Lighthouse

The crew were quick to return the relieved walkers to the shore, and the boat returned to station.

Sunday August 20th 2006 - 23.52

A person was reported to be swimming in Cullercoats Harbour, after having an argument with his girlfriend on the beach. A huge search was launched with over 20 police, helicopter and the TVLB. After 30 minutes of searching all units were stood-down after it was confirmed by police the man had made his own way home.

Sunday August 20th 2006 - 09.15

Cullercoats. The Cullercoats Lifeboat was on exercise and came across the boat, they towed it back into Cullercoats Harbour. 3 hours later the same boat re-launched and again got into the same difficulties, just behind the South Pier. This time however, Cullercoats Lifeguards - Tom Bowie and Marc Little were on-hand to tow the boat back to the beach, advising them to get their boat fixed properly before launching again.

Saturday August 19th 2006 - 17.32

A report was recieved from an off-duty policeman that a person was in difficulties in Browns Bay. On arrival at the scene a bunch of kids were happy playing in the sea, and once confirmed no-one was in trouble the lifeboat returned to station.

Friday August 18th 2006 - 04.26

Cullercoats Lifeboats crew were mustered after a report of person in the water opposite Rex Hotel was recieved. The boat was stood-down before it launched.

Wednesday August 9th 2006 - 16.30

The most publicised and sad service of the year so far occurred on Wednesday 9th August. Cullercoats Lifeboat was paged to attend St Mary's Lighthouse where it was reported that a group of 4 divers had been washed off the causeway leading to the island.

A huge search and rescue operation was launched by Humber Coastguard involving Cullercoats Lifeboat, Two Lifeguard Jet-Ski's and a Lifeguard rescue boat, Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade, Tynemouth RNLI all-weather Lifeboat, Blyth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat, Blyth Volunteer Lifeboat, a Police boat, Rescue Helicopter 131 from RAF Bolumer and Police Helicopter India 99.

Cullercoats Lifeboat were quick to locate and pick-up 2 divers who had been washed away from the Island, and passed them to a waiting Ambulance on the shore. It was also confirmed a third member of the group had made his own way ashore.

After over an hour searching for the forth member of the diving party a female was spotted close inshore by a member of the TVLB. Council Lifeguards and RNLI Crew members rushed to the scene and transferred her quickly to an ambulance waiting just 10 meters away on the shore.

Later on that night, despite the best efforts of all rescue and hospital staff involved, she was pronounced dead.

Cullercoats Lifeboat expresses our sympathies to the family of the deceased.

Thursday 27th July 2006 - 01.37hrs

Report of person entering the sea in Whitley Bay. The lifeboat was stood down whilst launching.

Tuesday 18th July 2006 - 20.41

The Cullercoats Lifeboat was launched to assist a dingy off Whiltey Bay who has reported engine trouble. Once at the scene it was confirmed the casualty had freed the propeller and was making their own way ashore

Wednesday 21st June 2006 - 21.20

Cullercoats ILB was requested launch following report of a dog in the water at St Mary's Island, 2.5 miles North West from station. Before launching, the shape was confirmed as a piece of wreckage and the ILB was stood down.

Thursday 15th June 2006 - 18.40

The crew of the Cullercoats Lifeboat rescued four 14 year-old local girls and a man who had assisted them in a dramatic incident on Thursday 15th June.

The girls were wave-jumping at the south end of Whitley beach when they were knocked over and washed out to sea. Seeing their difficulties, three local men dived into the sea to assist them. They were able to take a couple of life-rings to help support the girls. All of those in the water were being taken out to sea by the rip tide and the girls were becoming increasingly tired and cold. One of the girls had been separated from the others and lacked any buoyancy support.

Cullercoats Lifeboat launched in three minutes, following the call from the Coastguard and was on scene three minutes later. By this time all of the casualties and helpers were between 150 and 200 metres from the shore. The crew were able to pick up the girls and Mr Graham while Mr Flannery and Mr Heimarsh swam back to the shore. In view of the distressed and cold condition of the girls, the Helmsman asked for an ambulance to meet the lifeboat at Cullercoats. The worst of the girls was immediately rushed to hospital while the other four casualties were warmed while awaiting another ambulance to take the girls to North Tyneside General Hospital; Mr Graham went directly home without medical attention.

Robert Oliver, Leading Helmsman at Cullercoats, said, “Without a doubt, but for the men who came to the girls’ assistance, we could have had a very different result. Had anyone less competent in water dived in to help, we would have had even more people to rescue”.

Tuesday 6th June 2006 - 18.50

Boat was launched after it was reported a youth had jumped over the cliff at Cullercoats bay after being chased by a gang of other youths. Coastguard asked the ILB to carry out a search of the Bay area in case the youth had entered the water. The search revealed nothing and an observer reported that the youth had run away from the north side of the bay. The ILB was stood down and it returned to station.

Saturday 3rd June 2006 - 15.40

A vessel was stuck on the rocks to the South of Cullercoats Harbour. Lifeboat launched and initially was unable to get alongside due to insuffient water. Harvey Smith and Neil Thackray entered the water and climbed up on the casualty vessel. The owner had no VHF. Due to failure to keep a good lookout he had hit submerged rocks on an ebb tide and onshore breeze. As the tide flowed the lifeboat put a tow on board so as the casualty floated she could be pulled clear of the rocks. However as the tide flowed , it became that the casualty was taking in a substantial amount of water. DLA advised CG that a salvage pump was required and Tynemouth all weather lifeboat was launched to assist, arriving at 16:08, just as the casualty was beginning to float clear of the rocks. The casualty was at this stage very low in the water. Tynemouth lifeboat strapped the casualty alongside and transferred the pump. When the vessel was cleared of water the two vessels made their way slowly to the Royal Quays Marina where the casualty was lifted clear of the water. Cullercoats lifeboat returned to station.

Friday 2nd June 2006 - 16.05

Report from Coastguard that 4 persons were trapped on rocks with incoming tide, two persons on South Crab Hill and two persons on North Crab Hill. The lifeboat first assisted the 2 persons trapped on the South Crab Hill, assisting them to wade ashore in waist high water. The lifeboat then proceeded to the North Crab Hill but the TVLB had successfully assisted the two person to shore. After confirming the situation with the Coastguard, the lifeboat returned to station.

Monday 29th May 2006 - 16.50

Report from Coastguard said that a person had been washed off the North breakwater at Cullercoats and was in difficulties. However whilst preparing to launch it was clear that the teenager in the water was not in difficulties, although this person and his friends were engaged in a very dangerous game (of continually being washed off the breakwater) they did not require lifeboat assistance.

Sunday 28th May 2006 - 08.05

Humber Coastguard asked for the ILB to search in the Cullercoats area following discovery of a handbag on Cullercoats beach. ILB searched northwards towards Spanish City in Whitley Bay. Repeated search back to Tynemouth Pier when Police reported that the missing woman had been located ashore. ILB was stood down and returned to station.

Friday 26th May 2006 - 20.00

Humber Coastguard requested launch following distress message from owner of boat "Snow Queen" following gearbox failure. The casualty was located half mile south of the Ordnance Buoy off Whitley Bay Sands. The ILB passed a tow, taking the Snow Queen to her mooring in the South Shields area of the River Tyne.

Frdiay 19th May 2006 - 12.38

Humber Coastguard requested the Cullercoats Lifeboat to launch following report of a woman entering the water at Tynemouth Long Sands and swimming out to sea. The ILB almost immediately launched and went to the casualty, who was in a very distressed state. She was also very cold and tired and was brought aboard the lifeboat, where she was wrapped in a survival bag and supplied with oxygen to assist her breathing and help her regain composure. The ILB requested an ambulance to attend Cullercoats Beach and returned there immediately. On arrival, she was wrapped in blankets, comforted and assessed. On the arrival of the ambulance, she was transferred into the care of the paramedics.

The Humber Coastguard later issued a Press Release thanking the station for the speedy response in this service.

Monday 14th May 2006 - 13.57

Cullercoats Lifeboat was launched to a broken down boat off St Mary's Lighthouse. A crew member mangaged to fix the boats' propeller and escorted the boat back to the River Tyne.

Wednesday 26th April 2006 - 10.00

Cullercoats Lifeboat launched to report of 28' coble 1.5 miles east of St Mary's Island with engine failure. ILB proceeded to scene and after searching for a while found the vessel 1 mile away from the original reported location. The lifeboat crew towed the vessel to Blyth Harbour

Easter Sunday 16th April 2006 - 13.05

At Lunchtime on Easter Sunday the Cullercoats Lifeboat assisted a small speed boat who was having engine problems just outside Cullercoats harbour, the boat was towed safely back into the Harbour.

Easter Sunday 16th April 2006 - 09.00

On Easter Sunday morning the crew were asked to assist the RSPCA at Whitley Bay beach where a dolphin had swam ashore and beached its self on the sand near the Rex Hotel. The lifeboat stood-by as various rescue attempts were made, but due to tidal constrictions the Lifeboat was stood-down after over an hour leaving the RSPCA and Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade to continue the rescue.

A decision was later made by the RSPCA after many rescue attempts and a detailed examination that the dolphin should be put to sleep.

Good Friday 14th April 2006 - 12.05

At lunchtime on Good Friday our volunteer crew were called to the North End of Tynemouth Longsands where a dog had been reported to be swimming out to sea, with its owner in hot pursuit. Fearing the dog's owner would get into difficulties the lifeboat was launched to avert the situation.

The lifeboat arrived quickly on the scene but the owner had already made his way back to shore, but the dog was still swimming 200 metres off shore. The dog wasn't overly friendly when the crew tried to recover the animal so instead the crew stood-by and ushered it safely to shore.

Sunday 2nd April 2006 - 11.06

Cullercoats Lifeboat was on exercise at Marsden Rock when it was asked to attend to a situation on the river tyne where a boat was reported to be floating down the river. The crew searched the river for the boat, with the help of Tynemouth ILB. After 45 minutes the boats were stood-down after it was discovered the boat was not in difficulties. In the end a false alarm with good intent.

Thursday 19th January 2006 - 17.09

Cullercoats Lifeboat launched on service for the first time in 2006, to help police and the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade in the search for a missing person who was though to be in a state of distress. The crew searched the sea off Whitley Bay for any signs of the person - but they were stood-down at police request after 45 minutes, and the boat returned to station.